I just noticed this on the ticker on NFL Network. The NFL is considering getting rid of the extra point:
"The extra point is almost automatic," Goodell said, via NFL.com. "I believe we had five missed extra points this year out of 1,200 some odd. So it's a very small fraction of the play, and you want to add excitement with every play."
So, what would you replace it with? The article only lists one proposal:
...you'd get seven points for a touchdown unless you decide you want an eighth point. If you go for the eighth point and fail, you'd only get six points for the score.
I don't disagree that extra points are pretty much automatic, but there is something un-football about being rid of it.
If they were to do away with it, what would be good alternatives (other than what was already outlined)?
What would kickers do? Does it make them more or less valuable?
Comments
Hm. Times are a changin'.
You still gotta have em for FG's, so...I dunno.
It kinda gives a bit of an edge to teams who can light it up, which happens every other week to every other team in the League.
I don't know. The backwards points thing is silly.
I think go with 7 pts for a TD, 3 for FG, and that's kinda it.
This is all because Gronk got hurt blocking for an extra point. What a joke the NFL is becoming.
No. This is why:
If you ask me that's why you leave it alone. They're still missing it sometimes. Make them go for it. The year not a single PAT is missed, then you discuss this.
That's my point as well
good gawd
Simple, move the extra point line back 10 or 15 yards, increase the element of risk. Do not get rid of the extra point, that would be un-American! Seriously though, just make it a longer kick... say from the 15 yard line which puts it at a 32 yarder, play a season, then assess the results and adjust again if the suits don't like the results. It's not rocket science NFL, just make it more interesting by upping the challenge.
That would be my preference as well. If it's so easy right now, just make it a bit harder.
Another alternative I'd enjoy watching is making teams go for 2 every time.. Six points for a TD, with the chance for two more.
One of the things I like about rugby is that the extra points must be kicked at the same horizontal position on the field where a try (rugby touchdown) is scored.
In other words, if you dive for the pylon to score a touchdown, the extra point would have to be kicked from near the sideline.
I think that adds an interest element of difficulty.
that's essentially getting rid of 2 point conversions, and you still wouldn't see many more PAT misses.
In my NFL there would be no PAT's, FG's, or kickoffs. Start at the 25 and try to score TD's...which would be 7 pts. That way all scores would be multiples of seven, which would bring good luck to everybody involved, because, the number seven...well, you know.
Kickers are soooooooo 20th century. I would allow punting. Not so much because I like it, but because this is a Hokie forum, and A.J. Hughes may look in every now and then, so...yeah, punting is ok.
That's how I grew up playing ball in the street.
I would imagine that you are a very lucky person because of it. Let me know the next time you are buying lottery tickets...I'm in.
6 Pts for a TD
1 XP from 2 yds out (no kicks)
2 XP from 10 yds out (also no kicks)
The only problem with this plan, is that you figure the 2-pt conversion from the 2 currently is about a 50% conversion rate (see below):
http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/team-two-point-conversion-statis...
That means that your expected value of a TD is still 7 if go for 2 every time currently. If you drop the 2 yard attempt to only 1 point, and you assume the % stays similar, then now your TDs are only worth 6.5 points on average, which means FGs are more valuable (relatively).
and that's not to mention that it's actually easier to score from slightly further out. From the 2 yard line the defense has a lot less space to defend. ADV Defense.
Except I don't think you'd see very many teams trying to run the ball from 10 yards out. If a team had to go for 2 from 10 yards out, that essentially forces them to pass.
If this does go through, it could make or break you in fantasy football. That one extra point can go a long way in fantasy play.
Then you would get 7 points for TDs instead of 6?
No, Just No
You got it, this is a bad idea - keep the extra point kicks. Maybe tweek the distance but keep them!
IMHO, If they Took away 6 points for Every Time Someone was called for a Spearing Penalty or Hit to the Head....I bet Football would be a Heck of a Game. And Clean too. Or give three points for a TACKLE using both arms wrapped around causing a Tackle...Now That's some Football there.
I love it. Just eliminate the 1 pt attempt and make everybody go for two. Statistically, about 50% of 2-pt conversions are good, so you aren't impacting the value of a TD, but you're adding way more excitement to the game. I'd also argue that FGs are too easy - teams should not be making 60 yarders (that means they're barely getting past midfield!). Maybe narrow the goalposts significantly.
they might get rid of 2-pt conversions at some point, but they're never going to make them mandatory. And I'm pretty sure the goalposts are already narrower than in college. Seems to me you see plenty of FB misses in the NFL, so nothing to fix there.
Play it like rugby. Wherever the ball is "touched down" in the end zone is where you have to kick from. Maybe set an outer limit, but you would be kicking from near a sideline at some crazy angle. That would spice things up a bit, and make the touchdown a little more interesting with the player trying to get to the center of the field while already in the end zone.
That's not bad. I like it. Would it still be from the 2?
Yeah. You just move east-west depending on where you are tackled in the end zone.
It'd also have the advantage of making those fade throws to the corner of the endzone which are impossible to defend less valuable - the 1 pt attempt would be impossible. Quick question - how far East or West could you go? All the way to the sideline, or are you stopped at the hashes? And does that hold for a 2-pt try?
That's what I meant in saying the touchdown call would be more interesting. You would want the TE over the middle more than the fade to set up the extra point. Or if you do end up out there, you might just go for 2 over kicking it.
And you would have to set up an outer bounds to how far east-west you can go. You can't line up if you're on the sideline. Hashes would be a logical place to start, but I would push it another 5 yards just to make it more interesting.
And allow the kicker to decide how far back he'd like to place it, like rugby, to make the angle possible.
Disclaimer: This is completely half-baked.
Mandatory 2-point conversions, but you are only allowed one skill-position player (you get the choice of RB/WR). More smash-mouth, more fat-guy touchdowns.
And yes, it handicaps spread-based teams, but tough s*#%. Man up.
Really, the solution is easy. You need to force kickers to drop kick like the old days on extra points... now THAT would be entertaining. And it would certainly make extra points more difficult.
I can't embed videos at work, but there's one somewhere of Doug Flutie doing it during his last run with the Pats.
I think Drew Brees tried it in a Pro Bowl one year.
I don't know if anyone else was paying attention, but during our game against UNC this year Journell drop kicked it for fun from about 35 yards away and on the number (so outside the hash mark). It barely fell short.
Keep extra points they make the Two Point Conversions more interesting. Get rid of field goals. Touchdown or bust! I'm tired of seeing teams winning or tying a game on a field goal as time expires by lollygagging around for 3 plays while going 2 yards in 90 seconds....
I'd like it eliminated, because right now, the series after a TD is the most boring in sports:
TD! I'm so excited!
*commerical break*
automatic extra point. meh
*commerical break*
Kickoff for a touchback. yawn
*commerical break*
Ok... now football?
Gotta pee sometime.
And he rounds 3rd...to the men's room
I'm probably going to get some blowback for this but I'd be fine if they got rid of XP's and FG's all together. What gives a kicker the right to jog onto the field and either win or lose the game that 11 other dudes have been playing their nuts off for the past 59:58? Don't seem right to me.
Because strategy. I feel like the more possible ways (to a certain extent... not suggesting "5 points for tackling a player by only using his left shoelace" etc.) there are to put points on the board, the more important coaching and situational football come into play. I like the mental/strategic chess-match-like aspects of the game.
What you said makes complete sense. Calling plays to get in FG range vs. calling plays to get a TD etc etc, But I still don't like the fact that Finkle can come out there and decide it. To me, that's like the other 22 guys put the condom on but couldn't use it for it's intended purposes.
Yeah I understand that point. And in reference to Finkle, "LACES OUT DAN!"
Let's take the foot out of football!
I would be all up for removing XPs, FGs, Punts, and Kick Offs just so we could hear the Europeans whine even more about us calling it Football.
So basically standard PvP Madden rules?
Leave it alone.
There are other things to fix, like how the 49ers should have had that ball on the play that injured NaVorro Bowman. (And I hate the 9ers, but they got the hose)
And overtime.
I agree they got hosed...BUT...they actually benefited from the call. The very next play the seahawks screwed up and San Fran took over on their own 15 instead of being backed up against their own end zone. It's terribly unfortunate that Bowman was hurt..he's a great player and an asset to the team..but at least their offense didn't have to start on their own goal line.
Yup. Then Kam Chancellor happened.
Better field position, and Kaep gave it right away.
Glorious.
Reminds me of the drops our Whip takes into the flat...
Yeah it should have been their ball, but it's hard for me to say they got hosed when those are the rules and they are interpreted that way consistently throughout the entire season. Plus, as you said, it didn't end up determining the game and actually benefited the Niners.
That's very true. My dad said justice was served on that play.
You can't say that to too many SF fans though.
Can't we just leave the darn game alone? Geesh. They talk about eliminating kick-offs...they don't let defensive players hardly touch anyone...I just want them to keep their greasy little hands off of the rules.
Leave it alone, but make the goal posts narrower. FGs are almost automatic inside 45 yards these days.
I don't like the idea of getting rid of the extra point. I know it at times seems meaningless, especially in the NFL because it's almost a give me 99 times out of 100, but it's just part of the game. I don't like changing aspects of a sport just because it may seem to make it more entertaining.
the pro game is gonna be damn near unrecognizable by the time goodell is done with it.